A Long, Long Day at Augusta National

Published 8:00 pm, Thursday, April 10, 2003

Tommy Aaron ambled slowly toward the Augusta National clubhouse, his left hand caressing a stinging pain in his back.

And he still had 18 holes to go.

Ugh.

The first day of the Masters was a dawn-to-dusk marathon encompassing two full trips around the course for some players.

As if that wasn't bad enough, the 7,290-yard layout was soaked from nearly a week of rain, making it tougher to play and especially grueling for those who had to walk it twice _ a distance approaching 10 miles.

"I wish I could keep going," 65-year-old Charles Coody said at the halfway point. "I'm afraid if I sit down, I won't be able to get up."

The burly Texan managed to stay upright, his day _ and another Masters _ finally ending when he tapped in a par putt with the sun sinking behind the Georgia pines.

"Y'all got a cot?" Coody asked no one in particular, teetering away from the scoring hut in mud-stained pants after signing for a 20-over-par 164.

The 60-something crowd _ or, in the case of Arnold Palmer, 70-something _ were overwhelmed by a day that was as much about youth and fitness as it was about chips and putts.

Thursday's opening round was washed out, prompting Augusta National to schedule 36 holes on Friday. That made things especially tough for aging former winners who give the Masters its unique flavor.

Even for the younger guys, this was a long, long day. They're not used to playing 36 holes of championship golf in a day _ a common practice decades ago.

"It's a big challenge," Phil Mickelson, 32, said. "We've all conditioned ourselves to relax after 18 holes. To get back up and focused to play more holes, sometimes that can be a challenge. As the day wears on, you're not just physically tired. You're mentally tired as well."

As with many other subjects, Mickelson has his own way of dealing with fatigue. It seemed to work _ after opening with a 73, he went 3 under through the next 11 holes to push himself into contention.

"You can't focus every second of the day," Mickelson said. "You've got to let your mind wander between shots. If you can regroup, it's not as draining."

Two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal was 1 over after 34 holes _ a respectable score considering the conditions. But he was too pooped to savor the moment.

"I played for 11 hours," the Spaniard said. "As you know, Augusta is not the kind of course that's very flat."

It was certainly hard for someone Coody's age to make it around.

His alarm went off at 5 a.m. EDT. When he got to the course, the driving range and putting green were illuminated by spotlights. At 7:30, he stepped up to the first tee with Aaron and Sandy Lyle, a slight drizzle falling and temperatures still in the 40s.

"Cold, wet, damp and sleepy" was how Coody described the conditions.

In between rounds, there was a quick stop for soup and sandwiches in the clubhouse. Then, it was back out again. Nearly 12 hours later, the threesome finally got back to where they started.

"It was a long slog," said Lyle, who shot 155. "I'm very happy to get finished."

At least the weather improved as the day went along. Charles Howell teed off in the morning wearing a stocking hat. By the afternoon, the sun was shining, temperatures warmed into the 60s and many players traded sweaters for short-sleeved shirts.

Small consolation. The 45-year-old Lyle couldn't remember the last time he walked 36 holes. Neither could Coody.

"It's been a while," he said. "And if I did it, it was in a cart. I haven't walked 36 in I don't know when."

Aaron, 66, needed treatment on his back after 18 holes, then struggled around the hilly, mushy course to make it 18-squared.

"It was tough, tough golf," he said. "This a big golf course. But I made it."

It probably wasn't the best time to ask Aaron if he wanted to come back for another year. Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson reversed course on letting ex-champions play in the Masters, saying they're welcome as long as they feel competitive.

Aaron was hardly competitive, shooting a 92 in the morning, an 80 in the afternoon _ a score so high that Augusta National quit posting it on the board his last few holes.

Jack Nicklaus, 63, didn't come close to shooting his age. No, the Golden Bear signed for an 85 in the first round _ his worst Augusta round ever by four strokes and, frankly, he was downright embarrassed.

Arnold Palmer was 21 over when the horn sounded because of darkness.

"I'm not so worried about" playing 36 holes, the 73-year-old Palmer said between the first and second rounds. "What I'm worried about is coming back out tomorrow."

His fears were realized. With the black of night closing in, the King still had four holes to play.